A MENTAL health trust has slammed two supermarket giants for selling ‘mental patient’ Halloween costumes.
The chief executive of 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which supports patients in Halton, Knowsley, St. Helens, Wigan and Warrington, said the decision was ‘utterly shocking’.
Asda bosses have now apologised and withdrawn the £20 outfit it was selling online which included fake blood, a mask and a fake meat cleaver after criticism last night.
A spokesman added they would be making a ‘sizeable donation’ to a mental health charity.
National reports have also described retailers Tesco and Amazon selling a Halloween outfit including an orange boiler suit with ‘Psycho Ward’ written across the front and back, along with a ‘Committed’ stamp below.
Mr Barber added: “It is utterly shocking that supermarket giants Asda, Tesco and other retailers have brought ‘mental health’ themed Halloween costumes to the market.
“We welcome the public condemnation that we have seen over the past 24-hours which shows that – quite rightly - there is no appetite for these grossly offensive items.
“It is right that these items have now been removed from sale.
“Mental illnesses are very real medical conditions in the same way that physical health conditions are.
“Disability is not a ‘costume’ to dress up in.
“Through our ‘Sticks and Stones’ campaign, we have been trying to stamp out mental health stigma and find it extremely encouraging to hear so many people speaking out about this disgraceful error of judgement.”
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